Welcome to Beijing

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Beijing City Guide

Population:

22 million

Language Spoken:

Standard Mandarin

Currency Used:

Renminbi (rmb)

Emergency Contact Number:

110

Country Calling Code:

0086

Time Zone:

China Standard (UTC+8)

Student Population:

N/A

Beijing is the capital city of China, and is located in the north-east of the country, close to the East China Sea. The city has a huge population of 22 million, making it one of the most populous cities in the world. Beijing, which hosted the 2008 Olympic Games, has seen huge urban and industrial growth over the last 50-60 years, and has become one of the most influencial cities in the world.

HOW TO GET TO BEIJING
Beijing is the most important transport hub in China and is extremely well-connected. Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) is the second busiest airport in the world, and is located 12 miles north-east of the city centre. The airport welcomes daily domestic and international flights, and is connected with the city by shuttle buses and an 'Airport Express' rail link, which is part of the subway. If you arrive as a group, or with lots of luggage, you may prefer to take a taxi, when travel times will depend on the time of day. Beijing has a number of railway stations, the main stations being Beijing Railway Station and Beijing North, South and West stations. If you are arriving by bus, there are 10 long-distance bus stations dotted around the city.

GETTING AROUND BEIJING
Public transport in Beijing is extensive and consists of the subway and a bus network. The subway system has 17 lines servicing over 200 stations, and there are literally thousands of bus routes. Both modes of transport are extensive making the majority of the city and surrounding areas easily accessible. Tickets are inexpensive, and can be bought from self-service machines at most bus and train stations. Due to public transportation being inexpensive, it is also very busy and during peak times you can almost guarantee to be standing! To save time, and in some cases, money, it is worth getting a 'Yi Ka Tong', which is a pre-paid card that can be used on all routes. Almost all of Beijing is flat and most of the main roads have cycle lanes. Many students cycle.

STAYING IN BEIJING
More to follow.

EATING OUT IN BEIJING
More to follow.

GOING OUT IN BEIJING
More to follow.

THINGS TO DO IN BEIJING
There is plenty to see and do in Beijing. Visit the Great Wall of China, the Forbidden City or the iconic Tiananmen Square, spend a few hours at the Beijing Zoo or the National Museum of China, and in the evening, you can enjoy a performance at the National Centre for the Performing Arts or an opera at the Peking Opera. For sports fans, there is 'Chinese Super League' football at the Workers' Stadium, basketball at the MasterCard Center, and the city is even home to a baseball team, the Beijing Tigers! For the more energetic, we recommend renting a bike, or going for a walk or a run through the streets and parks of the city, when you will be able to enjoy the city's landmarks and absorb the local atmosphere. The Beijing Botanical Garden is a 'must-see'.

SHOPPING IN BEIJING
As you can imagine, the city offers an unrivalled selection of shopping. Some of the main shopping streets in the city centre include, Qianmen, Xidan, Silk, Wangfujing and Longfusi streets. On these streets you will find an array of high street brands, chic boutiques, department stores and independent stores. Popular department stores worth a visit are Beijing Friendship Store and the Scitech Shopping Center, both in the Chaoyang District, and SOGO in the Xuanwu District. The Chinese love to barter and there are plenty of street markets in Beijing, where you can try your hand at the art of haggling. Local markets are also a good place to find more traditional items and handycrafts. Popular markets include the Hongqiao Curio Market, the Liangma Collection Market and the Panjiayuan Flea Market.

STUDYING IN BEIJING
Beijing is fast becoming a very important centre for education, not only in Asia, but in the world. The city is home to a vast number of universities and colleges including, Tsinghua University and Peking University. For more info on studying at any of these, please visit the University section of the website.

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